Supplying New Toner Patents (Class 399/258)
  • Patent number: 9964893
    Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, a cover, and an agitating member. The case main body is configured to contain a toner and to rotate. The cover is configured to cover an opening part arranged at the case main body and to maintain a rotation stop state when the case main body rotates, the cover having a communication space which communicates with an inside space of the case main body via the opening part. The agitating member is configured to rotate integrally with the case main body and to agitate the toner in the communication space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Koji Murata
  • Patent number: 9946193
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion capable of accommodating a developer, a storage capable of storing the developer, with the storage being provided with a discharge opening configured to permit discharge of the developer from the storage, and a pump portion changeable between a maximum volume state and a minimum volume state and actable to the discharge opening. In addition, a discharge suppressing portion is movable between a first position in which the discharge suppressing portion is remote from the discharge opening and a second position in which the discharge suppressing portion is close to the discharge opening, wherein the discharge suppressing portion is in the second position at least for a predetermined period of time when the pump portion is in the minimum volume state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Yusuke Yamada, Ayatomo Okino, Nobuyuki Yomoda
  • Patent number: 9946196
    Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a casing, a toner conveyance unit, a cover, and a first protrusion. The casing includes a first toner-accommodating section having a first internal space for accommodating toner. The first toner-accommodating section has a first opening. The toner conveyance unit is rotatable and configured to convey toner from the first internal space to the first opening. The cover covers the first opening and has a second opening for allowing toner to be discharged therethrough. The cover has a circumferential surface at which a plurality of gear teeth is provided. The gear teeth are configured to move a developing shutter provided at a developing unit for opening or closing an opening of the developing unit. The first protrusion is configured to release the developing shutter from a locking member of the developing unit for locking the developing shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Takashi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9946195
    Abstract: A developer container or a developing device including a sheet member having a plurality of holes and a plurality of protruded portions to be inserted into the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Takasaka, Tadashi Horikawa, Naoya Asanuma, Go Torii
  • Patent number: 9927739
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, when a nozzle insertion member is detached from a powder container, an engaging portion and an engaged portion are disengaged from each other by resiliently displacing the engaging portion in a direction in which the engaging portion is disengaged from the engaged portion. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a stress applied to the powder container and the nozzle insertion member at the time of attachment and detachment of the nozzle insertion member. Consequently, it becomes possible to easily detach the nozzle insertion member from the powder container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Keiichi Yano, Junji Yamabe, Ryoichi Teranishi, Yuuta Tanaka, Seiji Terazawa
  • Patent number: 9885996
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a main body, a belt unit configured to accommodate a belt, a belt cleaning member and an accommodating unit. The belt cleaning unit is configured to remove waste toner adhered on the belt. The accommodating unit is configured to accommodate the toner removed by the belt cleaning unit. The apparatus further includes a drum unit having a drum cleaning member, and a waste toner conveying mechanism configured to convey the waste toner to the collecting unit. The conveying mechanism has a drum-side conveying unit configured to be connected with the drum cleaning member. Communication between the drum-side conveying unit and the collecting unit is enabled in association with movement of the drum unit from the outside position to the inside position, and disabled in association with movement of the drum unit from the inside position to the outside position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isao Fukuchi, Atsushi Fukui
  • Patent number: 9874835
    Abstract: A developing device mountable in a main body of an image forming device includes: a frame, a developer cartridge attachable to the frame, and a maintaining member. The developer cartridge includes: a casing having an opening; and a shutter movable between an open position and a closed position to open and close the opening. The developer cartridge is movable between a first position to be attached to the frame and mountable in the main body and a second position to be partially detached from the frame and incapable of being mounted in the main body. The shutter moves from the closed position to the open position while the developer cartridge moves from the second position to the first position. The maintaining member maintains the shutter at the closed position when the developer cartridge moves from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 9869967
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mounting portion on which a toner container provided with an accommodating portion configured to accommodate toner is mountable; and an opening connectable with an opening provided in the toner container to be in fluid communication with the toner accommodating portion when the toner container is mounted to the mounting portion. The mounting portion is provided with a rib extending in a mounting direction in which the toner container is mounted to the mounting portion and configured to guide a bottom surface of the toner container in the mounting direction, the rib including a plurality of sets of alternating peak and valley arranged along a longitudinal direction of the rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9864304
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a first component, a second component, a first end surface, a second end surface and a sealer. The sealer arranged on the first or second end surface seals the part between the first end surface and the second end surface while keeping the first opening communicated with the second opening when the second component is mounted on the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayuki Kasukawa
  • Patent number: 9857729
    Abstract: A nozzle insertion member arranged in a powder container includes a nozzle insertion opening; an opening/closing member opening/closing the nozzle insertion opening; a supporting member supporting the opening/closing member; and a biasing member provided to the supporting member to bias the opening/closing member toward a closing position. When the powder is supplied to the conveying nozzle along with rotation of a rotary conveyor arranged inside the powder container, the supporting member rotates with the rotation of the conveyor. The opening/closing member is rotated by a drive transmitting mechanism with rotation of the supporting member. The mechanism includes an elongated member arranged on the opening/closing member and penetrating through an opening formed on the supporting member; and a drive transmitted portion formed on the elongated member; and a drive transmitting portion formed on an inner surface of the opening and configured to come into contact with the drive transmitted portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Shinji Tamaki, Shunji Katoh, Junji Yamabe
  • Patent number: 9851658
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrying member and first and second conveyance members. The first conveyance member conveys a developer in a first direction through a first conveyance path to the developer carrying member. The second conveyance member conveys the developer in a second direction through a second conveyance path included in a circulation path along with the first conveyance path. The second conveyance member has a helical second screw around a second shaft. The second conveyance path includes a developer replenishing port and a developer discharge port. The second screw is approximately constant in diameter in a second section being a portion extending a predetermined distance from an end of the discharge port in the second direction when viewed in a top view. The second screw conveys the developer at a lower speed in the second section than on an upstream side with respect to the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Inada, Yu Mukobayashi, Yuusuke Mandai, Kanji Nakayama, Shinichi Yoshimoto, Junji Kanda
  • Patent number: 9851657
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge storage portion that is installed in an image forming apparatus main body, and a toner cartridge that is configured so as to be able to be inserted into and removed from the cartridge storage portion. The cartridge storage portion has a storage opening that receives the toner cartridge, and has a gap between an end part of the toner cartridge and the storage opening, through which the end part of the toner cartridge is not able to be held, when the toner cartridge is stored in the cartridge storage portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Okuda
  • Patent number: 9846393
    Abstract: A waste toner collecting device includes an intermediate collection box, a conveying path, a conveying screw, an exhaust path and a floating toner collection chamber. The conveying path is provided in the intermediate collection box. The conveying screw is rotatable in the conveying path. Through the exhaust path, air containing a floating toner is sucked and passed. The floating toner collection chamber is provided on a part of the exhaust path in the intermediate collection box. The floating toner collection chamber has a discharge opening opened to an inside of the intermediate collection box and a discharge door. Rotation of the conveying screw in a normal direction turns the discharge door into a storage position where the discharge opening is closed. Rotation of the conveying screw in a reverse direction turns the discharge door into a discharge position where the discharge opening is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ohashi, Masahiro Ueno
  • Patent number: 9846389
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing portion, a first rotation control portion, and a second rotation control portion. The developing portion has a conveying member configured to convey a developer within a circulation-conveyance passage, and a reducing portion provided in the conveying member and configured to reduce an ability to convey the developer. The first rotation control portion is configured to rotate the conveying member at a predetermined first speed when a printing process is executed. The second rotation control portion is configured to suspend execution of the printing process and rotate the conveying member at a second speed lower than the first speed, when an average coverage rate per page of a printed matter having a predetermined reference number of consecutively printed pages exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kenichi Tamaki
  • Patent number: 9841701
    Abstract: A toner container includes a container main body, a rotation member, a flat plate-like lid member, a rib member, and a film member. The rotation member is rotatably provided in the container main body and extends in a depth direction of the container main body. The lid member closes an opening portion of the container main body in the depth direction. The rib member is provided on an inner surface of the lid member in such a way as to be located adjacent to the rotation member with a predetermined gap from the rotation member, and positions the lid member with respect to the opening portion. The film member is attached to the housing of the container main body such that one surface of the film member contacts the rib member and an opposite surface of the film member contacts an outer circumferential surface of the rotation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Hiromu Matsumoto, Tomohiro Sue
  • Patent number: 9829828
    Abstract: A developer supplier includes a developer container and a main unit. The main unit includes a mounting section. The developer container includes a container body, a developer discharge port and a container shutter. The main unit includes a housing, a developer supply port, a main unit shutter, and a biasing member. The biasing member biases the main unit shutter to the developer supply port. The developer container is mounted into the mounting section in a first orientation, and is subsequently rotated in a first rotational direction so that the developer container changes to a second orientation. The main unit shutter moves in the first rotational direction against a biasing force of the biasing member so that the developer supply port is exposed. The container body rotates in a second rotational direction owing to the biasing force so that the developer discharge port is covered by the container shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Daisuke Eto
  • Patent number: 9823601
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a developer-supplying container includes a container and a paddle. The container includes an opening for supplying the image forming apparatus with developer contained in the container. The paddle conveys the developer to the opening by rotating within the container. The paddle includes a first arm. The first arm has a shape that is wider on an upstream side in a direction of the rotation of the paddle and narrower toward a downstream side. In addition, the first arm is disposed such that a narrowest portion of the first arm is located at the same position as the opening in a direction of a shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriyuki Yokoyama, Eiji Gumbe
  • Patent number: 9817337
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, an image carrier, a developing device, a developer housing container, and a regulating member. The developer housing container takes a posture changeable between a first posture and a second posture. The developer discharge port communicates with the developer replenishment port such that the developer is replenishable to the developing device in the first posture. The second posture locates the developer discharge port separate from the developer replenishment port and seals the developer discharge port. The regulating member allows the cover member to be closed with respect to the apparatus main body while the developer housing container takes the first posture in the apparatus main body. The regulating member regulates the cover member to be closed with respect to the apparatus main body by an interference with the developer housing container while the developer housing container takes the second posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Daisuke Eto
  • Patent number: 9817336
    Abstract: A toner supply device includes a toner guide, an opening and closing member, and a biasing member. The toner guide guides toner toward a toner supply port. The opening and closing member opens and closes the toner supply port by moving. The biasing member biases the opening and closing member in a closing direction. The opening and closing member includes a base portion, an extension portion, and a toner receiving portion. The base portion faces and closes the toner supply port at the closing position. The extension portion extends downward from an edge of an end portion of the base portion, wherein the edge faces in the closing direction. The toner receiving portion is contracted upon receiving a pressing force in an opening direction, and is expanded upon disappearing of the pressing force and receives toner that has fallen down from the end portion of the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Fujimura
  • Patent number: 9804528
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a motor for rotating a stirring member and a cleaner to which a driving force of the motor is transmitted via a transmission mechanism. In a buffer container of a toner replenishment device of a developing device, a gear connected to a restriction member for stirring toner in the buffer container and restricting toner from dropping into a toner conveying section and a cleaning member for cleaning the detection surface of a toner sensor are driven by a motor. A CPU controls a timing at which a clutch stops transmission of the driving force from the motor to the gear, based on a result of detection by a flag sensor that detects an amount of rotation of the gear, and a rotational speed of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Shinotsuka, Tetsuhiro Yoshimoto, Hirohisa Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9785090
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic image with a developer, a developer container including a developer accommodating portion, a developing opening, and a developing chamber, and a developer supplying member that includes a shaft member, a first feeding member, and a second feeding member. The first feeding member has a length L1 measured in an axial direction of the developer carrying member and has a rotational radius R1 measured from a rotation center of the shaft member, and the second feeding member has a length L2. When a length of the developing opening is L3, a shortest length from the developing opening to the shaft member is L4, and a length from the developer carrying member to the shaft member is L5, the following relationships are satisfied: L1<L3<L2, and L4<R1<L5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sho Shirakata
  • Patent number: 9772581
    Abstract: A developer container, which is configured to contain developer therein, includes a developer conveyance plate configured to allow the developer to be placed thereon and convey the developer, an opening member including an opening for discharging the developer, and a coupling member coupling the opening member and the developer conveyance plate with each other. The developer conveyance plate includes a vibration target unit configured to receive a vibration. The coupling member extends/compresses, or swings when the developer conveyance plate conveys the developer toward an opening side where the opening is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Ogino, Tomonori Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 9753404
    Abstract: A powder container includes a container chamber that contains powder; a transporting member that transports the powder in the container chamber; an opening that is provided in a wall of the container chamber and through which the powder is discharged out of the container chamber as the transporting member transports the powder; and a closing member that closes a lower portion of the opening and moves vertically relative to the opening in a direction opposite to a direction of vertical movement of the opening due to tilting of the container chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Uchida, Manabu Furuki, Masashi Ikeda, Makoto Kamisaki, Tatsuhiro Igarashi, Teppei Yawada
  • Patent number: 9720342
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a housing; a conveying belt, and a retaining member. The retaining member retains image bearing members that juxtaposed with and spaced apart from one another. The retaining member is slidingly movable relative to the housing in a direction that the image bearing members are juxtaposed. The retaining member retains the image bearing members to confront the conveying belt. The image bearing members and the conveying belt are arranged in a reference direction. The retaining member includes a cleaning member that removes residual developing agent from the conveying belt, and a guide unit that guides the recording medium to the conveying belt. The guide unit is located on the image bearing member side and the cleaning member is located on the conveying belt side. At least part of the guide unit overlaps at least part of the cleaning member when projected in the reference direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 9709924
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a frame configured to contain a developer, a conveyance member configured to convey the developer, a detection unit configured to detect a developer amount of the developer inside the frame, and an adjustment unit configured to adjust a vibration condition of the conveyance member, wherein the adjustment unit adjusts the vibration condition of the conveyance member according to a result of detection by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kentaro Kawata
  • Patent number: 9690232
    Abstract: A toner container that is detachably attached to a main body of an image forming apparatus such that a longitudinal direction of the toner container is parallel to a horizontal direction includes: a cylindrical container body that has an opening on one end thereof in the longitudinal direction, and is configured to convey toner contained therein toward the opening; a cap portion into which the opening of the container body is inserted, and which includes a toner outlet at a bottom portion thereof for discharging toner discharged from the opening of the container body to the outside of the toner container in a vertically downward direction; and a shutter member that is held on the bottom portion of the cap portion, and moves along an outer periphery of the cap portion to thereby open and close the toner outlet, wherein the cap portion is formed by integral molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Hori, Noriyuki Kimura, Nobuo Takami, Yuji Suzuki, Hideki Kimura, Kenji Kikuchi, Junji Yamabe, Masato Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9684265
    Abstract: Provided is a developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member by feeding a toner to the electrostatic latent image. The developing device includes a developing frame configured to form an inner space in which the toner and a carrier are to be mixed, a developing roller including an outer periphery to which the developer attaches where the developing roller feeds the toner included in the developer to the image bearing member. The developing device includes an agitator installed in the inner space and configured to mix and deliver the toner and the carrier in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the developing roller, and a plurality of concave portions arranged on a bottom surface of the developing frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: S-PRINTING SOLUTION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong-hyun Park, Gun Heo
  • Patent number: 9684262
    Abstract: A developer supplier includes a developer container and a main unit. The main unit includes a mounting section for allowing the developer container to be mounted therein. The developer container includes a container body, a container shutter and a developer discharge port. The container shutter is supported on the container body and covers or exposes the developer discharge port. The main unit includes a housing and a guide mechanism. The housing is formed with a developer supply port. The developer container is mounted into a first position of the mounting section while being guided in a first direction by the guide mechanism, and subsequently the container body is rotated from the first position to a second position in a first rotational direction to thereby move and expose the developer discharge port away from the container shutter so that the developer discharge port communicates with the developer supply port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Daisuke Eto
  • Patent number: 9678470
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a main body; a toner cartridge having a first opening; a process cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a second opening; a positioning part; a transfer unit; and an urging member. The toner cartridge and process cartridge are attachable to and detachable from the main body in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum. The positioning part and transfer unit are positioned above the process cartridge attached to the main body. The positioning part fixes the attached process cartridge in position relative to the main body. The urging member urges the attached process cartridge toward the positioning part and urges the process cartridge such that such that the toner can be supplied from the toner cartridge to the process cartridge through the first opening and the second opening when the toner cartridge and the process cartridge are attached to the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 9671734
    Abstract: A control device drives a main driving device among driving devices each used to discharge recording material from a recording material container. A malfunction detector detects malfunction of the main driving device. When the malfunction detector has detected the malfunction, a recording material amount setting unit sets information indicating an amount of the recording material in the recording material container connected to the main driving device to a first value. A main driving device switching unit stops, when an amount of the recording material in the recording material container connected to the main driving device is the first value, driving the main driving device and then, when the driving devices other than the main driving device include one driving device having a recording material container connected thereto that contains a recording material an amount of which exceeds the first value, switches the main driving device to the one driving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuya Akiba
  • Patent number: 9665041
    Abstract: A developer supplier includes a developer container and a main unit. The main unit includes a mounting section. The developer container includes a container body and a container shutter. The container body is formed with a developer discharge port. The container shutter covers or exposes the developer discharge port. The main unit includes a housing, a guide mechanism, a fastening portion, a locking portion, and a lock release portion. The developer container is mounted into the mounting section in a first orientation being guided by the guide mechanism, and subsequently the container body is rotated in a first rotational direction so that the developer container changes to a second orientation in which the developer discharge port communicates with the developer supply port. The lock release portion is permitted to release the locking of the developer container so that the container body rotates to return to the first orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Daisuke Eto
  • Patent number: 9645525
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes for example a toner supply unit including a toner containing unit and a toner discharging unit having a toner outlet; a photoreceptor unit including a photoreceptor; a development unit including a development roller that supplies toner to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor and a supply roller that supplies toner to the development roller; a first toner supply member that supplies toner of the toner containing unit to the toner discharging unit; and a second toner supply member that transports toner of the toner discharging unit to the toner outlet. The first toner supply member is located in a second quadrant from among first through fourth quadrants based on a vertical line and a horizontal line which intersect at the second toner supply member, and the photoreceptor, the supply roller, and the development roller are located in the fourth quadrant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji-won Moon, Yong-il Moon, Sang-hoon Lee, Yong-kwan Cho
  • Patent number: 9547257
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer conveyance device to transport developer, using a positive-displacement pump to alternately generate positive pressure and negative pressure by changing a volume of an internal space thereof, a destination developer container to which the developer conveyance device transports developer, a sensor provided to the destination developer container, to detect developer in the destination developer container, and a controller to control the positive-displacement pump according to a detection result generated by the sensor. The controller disabled detection of developer by the sensor in a non-detection period that starts from a stop of the positive-displacement pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Kiyonori Tsuda, Nobuo Takami, Yutaka Takahashi, Kentaro Mikuniya, Keinosuke Kondoh, Akihiro Kawakami, Toshio Koike
  • Patent number: 9535372
    Abstract: Provided is a remanufacturing method of a developer accommodating unit including a flexible container provided with an opening and configured to accommodate developer, and a frame member configured to accommodate the flexible container. The remanufacturing method includes refilling the developer into the flexible container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuta Isobe, Takashi Kase, Kouki Yano, Takahiro Ikeda, Yusuke Usui, Shinjiro Toba, Masaaki Sato, Yosuke Kashiide, Satoshi Nishiya, Tatsuya Suzuki, Kohei Matsuda
  • Patent number: 9513579
    Abstract: A developer replenishing apparatus includes a developer housing container and a sensor. The developer housing container includes a container main body having a wall that partitions an internal space, a shaft section arranged so as to extend in a first direction in the internal space, a moving wall which moves from an upstream side to a downstream side in the first direction along the shaft section and which conveys the developer, and a developer discharge port which is arranged near a downstream end in the first direction of the container main body. The sensor is arranged at a position that enables the sensor to generate different outputs between before and after the moving wall reaches a prescribed position on a movement route. The determining unit determines a state where there is no developer in the developer housing container when the sensor generates an output determined in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Ikuo Makie, Hiroyuki Hamakawa
  • Patent number: 9513576
    Abstract: A powder container contains powder and is attached to an image forming apparatus including: a conveying nozzle to convey the powder; a powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle to receive the powder from the powder container; an apparatus main-body gear to transmit a driving force to the powder container; and a container receiving section including the conveying nozzle and receiving the powder container. The powder container includes: an opening at one end of the powder container in a longitudinal direction; a nozzle receiver at the opening to receive the conveying nozzle; a conveyor to convey the powder; and a container gear to drive the conveyor by meshing with the apparatus main-body gear. The container gear is to mesh with the apparatus main-body gear at a position closer to the opening than the powder receiving hole in the longitudinal direction. The opening is to mate with the container receiving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Katoh, Michiharu Suzuki, Hideo Yoshizawa, Shingo Kuboki
  • Patent number: 9500983
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a developing device to develop with developer a latent image formed on the image bearer, a developer container to contain developer, a temporary reservoir to temporarily store developer supplied from the developer container and having an outlet to discharge the temporarily stored developer to the developing device, a first conveyance device to transport developer from the developer container to the temporary reservoir, a second conveyance device to transport developer from the temporary reservoir to the developing device, a first developer amount detector to detect an amount of developer in the temporary reservoir, and a controller to control driving of the first conveyance device based on a detection result generated by the first developer amount detector and data relating to driving of the second conveyance device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kayoko Tanaka, Keita Sone, Kenji Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9477178
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a toner cartridge removably installable in the image forming device. The toner cartridge has a reservoir for storing toner and an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for exiting toner from the toner cartridge. The toner cartridge has a shutter that is movable between a closed position blocking the outlet port and an open position unblocking the outlet port. A sensor is positioned to detect whether the shutter is in the closed position or the open position when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nuestro Bayubay, Salvador Capurihan Bonanciar, Brian Scott Carpenter, Donato Austria Marmol, Robert Watson McAlpine
  • Patent number: 9477180
    Abstract: A developing device includes: an agitation member including an agitation film; and a housing including a first frame and a second frame jointed to the first frame. The second frame includes: a first contact part configured to contact the agitation film, and a second contact part configured to contact the agitation film, arranged at a downstream side of the first contact part, the second contact part protruding towards the first frame. A first distance from the rotational axis line to the first contact part, as seen from a direction of the rotational axis line, is gradually increased towards a downstream side with respect to the rotating direction. A second distance from the rotational axis line to the second contact part is equal to or greater than a maximum distance from the rotational axis line to the first contact part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroya Fukuta, Fan Xu, Keita Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9465320
    Abstract: A developer supplier for delivering a developer in a supply pipe having a multi-curvature structure is provided. The developer supplier includes a rotation shaft including a rigid first rotation shaft. The developer supplier includes a flexible second rotation shaft that has a smaller bending strength than the first rotation shaft, and is connected to the first rotation shaft, and a spiral wing formed around the rotation shaft, and at least a portion of the spiral wing formed around the second rotation shaft is flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yong-Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 9465317
    Abstract: A nozzle insertion member arranged in a powder container includes a nozzle insertion opening; an opening/closing member opening/closing the nozzle insertion opening; a supporting member supporting the opening/closing member; and a biasing member provided to the supporting member to bias the opening/closing member toward a closing position. When the powder is supplied to the conveying nozzle along with rotation of a rotary conveyor arranged inside the powder container, the supporting member rotates with the rotation of the conveyor. The opening/closing member is rotated by a drive transmitting mechanism with rotation of the supporting member. The mechanism includes an elongated member arranged on the opening/closing member and penetrating through an opening formed on the supporting member; and a drive transmitted portion formed on the elongated member; and a drive transmitting portion formed on an inner surface of the opening and configured to come into contact with the drive transmitted portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Shinji Tamaki, Shunji Katoh, Junji Yamabe
  • Patent number: 9459562
    Abstract: An improvement rotating powder drop structure includes a toner cartridge, wherein a toner cartridge rear cover is located at a bottom of the toner cartridge, a rear cover sealing gasket is located between the toner cartridge and the toner cartridge rear cover, a driving gear is sleevedly connected to a top of the toner cartridge, a powder exit is provided at an inner side of the driving gear, a powder exit sealing gasket is provided at an inner side of the powder exit, two first powder blocking flakes are respectively symmetrically located at two sides of the powder exit, two second powder blocking flakes are respectively fixed to two first powder blocking flakes, a spring is located within the powder exit, a slide bar is located at a top of the spring, an upper cover is located at the top of the toner cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Beijing Xinchen Office Equipment Co.,LTD
    Inventors: Bo Chen, Ruxu Wang
  • Patent number: 9429874
    Abstract: A toner container that is detachably attached to a main body of an image forming apparatus such that a longitudinal direction of the toner container is parallel to a horizontal direction includes: a cylindrical container body that has an opening on one end thereof in the longitudinal direction, and is configured to convey toner contained therein toward the opening; a cap portion into which the opening of the container body is inserted, and which includes a toner outlet at a bottom portion thereof for discharging toner discharged from the opening of the container body to the outside of the toner container in a vertically downward direction; and a shutter member that is held on the bottom portion of the cap portion, and moves along an outer periphery of the cap portion to thereby open and close the toner outlet, wherein the cap portion is formed by integral molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Hori, Noriyuki Kimura, Nobuo Takami, Yuji Suzuki, Hideki Kimura, Kenji Kikuchi, Junji Yamabe, Masato Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9411267
    Abstract: Provided are a developer storing container, including a movable moving wall, and suppressing a developer from being leaked to a moving direction upstream side of the moving wall, and an image forming apparatus, provided with the same A toner container is provided with a container main body, a moving wall, a toner discharge port, and an inner wall seal. The toner container replenishes toner to a developing apparatus. The moving wall conveys the toner while being moved toward the toner discharge port inside the container main body. The inner wall seal forms an outer peripheral part of the moving wall, and is compressively deformed between an inner peripheral part of the container main body and the moving wall. A cross-sectional area of an internal space of the container main body is set so as to be decreased as a final position of the moving wall is approached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Takahisa Nakaue, Daisuke Eto
  • Patent number: 9395649
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a developer container having a containing portion which contains developer and is rotated when a driving force is transmitted to the containing portion from an image forming apparatus body, a discharge portion that rotatably supports the containing portion and has a discharge port through which the developer is discharged, and a restricting member provided at the discharge portion and movable between a restricting position where the restricting member restricts rotation of the containing portion and a releasing position where the restricting member releases the restriction of rotation of the containing portion, the developer container being removably attached to the image forming apparatus body; and a releasing member that is supported on the image forming apparatus body and moves the restricting member to the releasing position when the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Kanno, Kiyohito Horii, Shinichiro Fujimori, Seigo Shinozaki, Shota Oba, Norihiro Tamazawa, Ayumi Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9383686
    Abstract: A developer supplying container includes a rotatable developer discharging portion, a drive transmitting portion, a suppressing portion movable between an operating position and a non-operating position; and a recessed portion, provided on an outer peripheral surface of the developer supply container, for reducing a sliding load between an outer peripheral surface of the developer supply container and a wiping member of a developer receiving apparatus when the developer supply container is rotated in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuya Murakami
  • Patent number: 9360827
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a container which is removably mountable to the apparatus main body and has an outlet configured to discharge developer contained in the container, and a connecting route member having an opening portion configured to be separated from and connected to the outlet and a route through which the developer supplied to the opening portion passes. In addition, moving unit moves the connecting route member in a direction in which the opening portion is moved toward the outlet when the container is mounted to the apparatus main body, and in a direction in which the opening portion is moved away from the outlet when the container is removed from the apparatus main body. A cleaning unit cleans a part of the container, which faces the opening portion, after connection between the outlet and the opening portion is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takao Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9360798
    Abstract: A replenishing apparatus includes a rotatable cylindrical-shaped container having a discharge opening through which toner is discharged, and a guide member provided rotatably with the container. The guide member has a first face on an inner face of the container and a second face which guides the toner scooped by the first face toward the discharge opening. A controller controls a drive portion to rotate the container in a first mode that performs replenishment control in a first drive condition and in a second mode that performs replenishment control in a second drive condition in which a quantity of rotation of the container per unit time is less than the first drive condition. The controller switches the mode from the first mode to the second mode based on a detection result about a quantity of developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Amauchi, Takahiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9360796
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner and an outlet for exiting toner from the housing. A channel in fluid communication with the outlet has an inlet positioned between the first end and the second end of the reservoir. A rotatable auger is positioned along the channel. Paddles extend from a rotatable shaft in the reservoir. A first set of one or more paddles are positioned between a first end of the reservoir and the inlet of the channel and a second set of one or more paddles are positioned between a second end of the reservoir and the inlet of the channel. The first and second sets of paddles are angled to direct toner away from the first end and the second end of the reservoir, respectively, and toward the inlet of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Craig Leemhuis
  • Patent number: 9354550
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating chamber configured to accommodate developer, a feeding portion configured and positioned to feed the developer in the developer accommodating chamber by rotation thereof, and a developer discharging chamber provided with a discharge opening configured to permit discharging of the developer fed by the feeding portion. In addition, a rotatable gear rotates the feeding portion, a pump portion acts upon at least the developer discharging chamber, with the pump portion having a volume which changes with reciprocation, and a drive converting portion converts a rotational force generated by rotation of the gear to a force for operating the pump portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa, Ayatomo Okino, Yusuke Yamada